New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-20
ON TRIAL FOR BLASPHEMY.
AN OLD NEw-JERsEY LAW RAKED UP.
COLONEL NaERsoLL DEFENDING CHARLES D. REY-
NOLDs AT MORRIsTOwN.

NoLDS AT M0RRIsTOwN.
The trial of Charles d. Reynolds for basphemy was
begun in the court of Oyer and Termner at Morris
town, n j., yesterday. The case has been the talk
of the noghborhood foi considerable time and the
fact that Colonel Robert G. Ingersoh was to conduct
the defence gave additional interest it, So almost
the doors opened the little courtroom
crowded. Several ministers of various denomina-
tons watched the proceedings with close interest
and the front rows of the gallery were occupied by
ladies'. When Presiding udge'Frank Childs took his
seat, followed by Lay County Judges Quimby and
Charles Monson. there was not even standingroom
The tall, portly figure of Colonel Ingersol q
centre OF attraction. Close by him sat his client,
with thoughtful and even fine cast of features,
who, dressed in clericalookns raimen OF black and
wearing white tie might have been taken by the
casual observer for preacher of the Gospel.
Charles b. Reynolds is about iity-four years of
age, and was formerly an ordained minister In the
church OF the Seventh Day Adventers whose head
quarters ale at Battle Creek, Mich He was promi-
nent member of the NewYork conference OF this
body which Is stronger aud letter known in the West
than hereabouts. The broadening of his views aud
his ultimate espousal OF secularis beliefs OF course,
caused him to sever his connection with his church.
He was scarcely of with the old love before he began
working tor the new. He bought big tent and
started out itinerant featuring tour Last July
Ee landed at BoontOn, intending to make three
months stay in that neighborhood, aud speak under
the auspices OF the Liberal League His first lecture
levelled Mt the Protestants, and the same night
with charming mpartiaIity, lie had fling at the
Roman Catholics, distributing copies OF ID. NJ. Ben
netts old paper, A" The Truth Seeker" containing
features which tar from faterng to that sect.
Bennett will DO remembered in connection with hs
book Cupids Yoke" for which he sent to the
penitentary by Anthony Comstock's influence.
Reynodss efforts in Boonton resulted IN a small
riot, in which his tent was pulled down about the
ears of himself and his congregation his attempt
procure the arrest OF the minister and Ave church
elders whom he blamed for the resulted in
his arrest on a charge of blasphemy and he was
hound in the of $500 to await the session of the
next grand jury The Prosecutor, however, concluded
that there was no case against him. In October
the b ble,' embelished by double-page cartoon
entitled Casting Pearls before Swine-C. b. Rev-
nods in New-Jersey" This represents the lecturer
distributing these ewels to o number OF unapprecia
tive hogs some OF which are branded with capital
NJ othors with a cross. In the background is tent;
to the lecturers right the keeper OF the lot stands
beside a sty marked {" NJ e. Hog Pen" with a
bucket labelled Methodist Stop" To his left, bes'e
the Pgsty of the Holy Virgin is a man with
bucket OF Catholic Swill." sign post points To
BoontOn' His attempt to distribute copies of this in
Morrstown and its viinty resulted in his again being
indicted under the old New-Jersey statute against
blusphemy, and from October till his trial yesterday
he was held in $500 bail.
Throughout the proceedings yesterday he was per-
haps the coolest man present He smiled TO the
ladies In the gallery, many OF whom were from the
Boonton Liberal League, and occasionally whispered
with his counsel
1t took good deal of time to get jury. Colonel
IngersO fully availed himself OF TIE six challenges al
lowed him. Any Que who had the least little bit
of an opinion prejudice anywhere about him had
not much chance to Creed and sect were
inquired into, and when Colonel Ingersoll found
man who had but recently Joined n church, he
promptly Jumped on him. One man had to stand
aside because he Was over sxty-hve, and therefore
too old TO serve
Finally the following were selected: Jacob Ogden,
foreman; Andrew p. Coghlen, Lewis Bowen, Paul ii.
Vaudeville George Schuyler, Michael O'Rourke,
Eugene Buchanan. Leo De Hart Horace l.. Durham
Lemuel Pierson, Benjamin Flaberty and John Nc
Herman. When they had been sworn, dilapidaed
elderly individual overcome by his emotions and
potations, pushed his spectaces to his brow,
leaned up against pillar and yelled Three cheers
for Bob lngersoll" He was promptly commit ted tor
contempt OF court, and remoS ed smiling sweetly
and contentedly.
Prosecuting Attorney Willard Cutler then pro-
ceeded with the testimony for tie State The prn-
cpal evidence was the pamphlet itself The large
number OF witnesses called did not give any more
weighty testimony than that they had seen the de-
tendant distributing IT. Some OF them were not even
able to identify him. They were hurried on and OH
tho stand and but little time spent either In ex-
animation or cross-examinatiOn.
Colonel ngersvll said he hadn't any witnesses, but
would make few remarks.
We would be very much disappointed II you didn't
do that rem arked Judge Childs.
Alter an hours recess the Colonel began his address
and spoke for over two hours He argued in behalf Of
liberty of thought aud speech. and took the ground
that tho statute under which his client was indicted
wps not constitutional
The case was adjourned shortly after o'clock, and
will be resumed this morning at halt-past 8.
Colonel Ingersol thinks he will get his man
through II he does not, he will appeal the case.